Making a bold and decisive statement, the Westhill girls basketball team would roar through last weekend’s Juggler Classic in Utica, taking the tournament title to improve to 12-2 on the season.
In Saturday’s opening round, the Warriors faced Nazareth (Section V) and rode a big first half to a 65-42 victory.
Playing at a furious pace, Westhill quickly left Nazareth behind, building a 48-23 halftime lead through some of its best work of the season, especially on the offensive side.
Carly Cooper led with 18 points, but Kristen Diglio stole some of the thunder, hitting three 3-pointers and posting a season-best total of 16 points. Annie O’Connor was big too, as she matched Lisa Olszewski with 12 points apiece.
Westhill carried that vibe into Sunday’s final against Northeast Clinton, dominating throughout a 60-43 victory.
Most of Northeast Clinton’s offense came late, after the Warriors used its relentless full-court pressure to build a 45-19 lead through three periods.
Cooper kept getting open — and kept sinking long shots, hitting on six 3-pointers as she finished with 25 points. Olszewski, with 13 points, made sure that Northeast Clinton did not harass Cooper too much.
As a tune-up for the tournament, the Warriors methodically handled Jordan-Elbridge last Thursday night, beating the winless Eagles 61-22.
Westhill’s attack continues to get more diverse. Cooper had 18 points and Olszewski added 12 points, but Kaley Arsenault put up 10 points and Lauren Snyder contributed eight points. No J-E player had more than five points.
Now the Warriors face two more big games. On Thursday night, Westhill visits Skaneateles (10-4), and then it faces Bishop Ludden Saturday at 6 p.m., as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge at Onondaga Community College.
